UK Businesses Urged to Join Truck Cartel Legal Claim

Haulage and transport companies could be entitled to compensation following the price-fixing scandal that saw five truck manufacturers fined €2.9 billion by the European Commission

11th September 2017

By Adam Pescod

Last year, the European Commission (EC) fined five truck manufacturers a combined €2.9 billion for their part in a price-fixing cartel, which saw them collude on truck pricing between 1997 and 2011.

The cartel was exposed by a whistleblower at MAN, which, along with Daimler, Volvo/Renault, DAF and Iveco, was found to have fixed prices on their vehicles over the 14-year period. Although MAN escaped having to pay its share of the fine levied by the EC, due to its role in exposing the cartel, it was still found to have broken EU anti-trust rules.

With the five companies accounting for 90% of haulage vehicles in Europe, it’s opened the door for substantial compensation claims from businesses that leased or bought a truck between 1997 and 2011. The Road Haulage Association (RHA), which represents UK haulage firms, believes companies could be in line for compensation of at least £6,000 per truck, and has urged firms to join the claim it recently launched against the manufacturers involved in the cartel.

Richard Burnett, chief executive of the RHA, said: “UK truck owners affected by the truck cartel have potentially paid too much for their lorries over a 14-year period, and we’re determined to get a fair deal for them. This is a chance to get their compensation with no risk to their business or finances.

Announcing the fines last July, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: "There are over 30 million trucks on European roads, which account for around three-quarters of inland transport of goods in Europe and play a vital role for the European economy.

"It is not acceptable that MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco and DAF, which together account for around nine out of every 10 medium and heavy trucks produced in Europe, were part of a cartel instead of competing with each other."

Can my business make a claim?

If your company has ever leased or bought a truck from one of the five companies involved in the cartel, you could be entitled to compensation. The claim applies to trucks that fit the following criteria:

Leased or bought between 1997 and 2011

Weigh six tonnes or more

Leased or bought after 2011, if the price-fixing is proven to have affected the market since.

Second-hand trucks could also be included.

To join the RHA’s claim, or to find out more about the case, simply click the button below. RHA membership isn't necessary, and there is no cost involved.